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The Latest: New Mexico senators seek meeting on immigration

By: Associated Press

February 17, 2017Updated: February 17, 2017 at 6:20 pm

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FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2015, file photo, members of the National Guard patrol along the Rio Grande at the Texas-Mexico border in Rio Grande City, Texas. The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border, according to a draft memo obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The Latest on New Mexico's reaction to Trump's immigration National Guard proposal (all times local):

5:15 p.m.

New Mexico's two U.S. senators are seeking a meeting with federal immigration officials in hopes of clarifying whether any changes have been made in response to President Donald Trump's immigration executive orders.

Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich say they're getting reports that innocent people are being targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the wake of a push by the administration to deport immigrants who are in the country illegally.

The two Democrats also said Friday they would not support any plan to mobilize the National Guard to remove unauthorized immigrants.

The White House said the draft proposal was rejected and would not be part of pans to carry out Trump's immigration policy.

The senators say they want to determine a path forward toward what they called sensible immigration policy.

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2:15 p.m.

A state lawmaker is pushing a measure that would prevent the New Mexico National Guard from performing federal immigration operations.

Democrat Bill McCamley of Mesilla Park introduced his bill Friday after The Associated Press reported the Trump administration drafted a proposal to mobilize National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.

A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press showed the Trump administration considered mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants.

A Department of Homeland Security official described the memo as an early draft that was not seriously considered.

McCamley's measure also would ban the New Mexico National Guard from using resources and funding for federal immigration enforcement.

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11 a.m.

Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester says a Trump administration proposal to mobilize National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants is "immoral."

Wester told The Associated Press on Friday that he also couldn't imagine National Guard troops in New Mexico taking part in such missions aimed at their families, friends and neighbors.

A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press showed the Trump administration considered mobilizing as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.

New Mexico, a state with the highest percentage of Hispanic residents, was among the states cited in the draft memo.

A DHS official described the document as an early draft that was not seriously considered.

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10:15 a.m.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez says she has not seen a Trump administration proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops in 11 states to round up unauthorized immigrants.

Chris Sanchez, a spokesman for Martinez, said the Trump administration did not share the draft memo with the nation's only Latina governor.

A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press outlines a Trump administration proposal under consideration to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.

New Mexico is among the states cited in the draft memo, and the nation's most Hispanic state would have a choice whether to have its guard troops participate.

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9:30 a.m.

New Mexico's Catholic Bishops say a Trump administration proposal to use National Guard troops to round up immigrants would be a "declaration of some form of war."

Allen Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, said Friday the Roman Catholic Church in the nation's most Hispanic state would strongly oppose any effort to use National Guard troops to find and deport immigrants.

He says using the National Guard on a peaceful population would be like declaring a war within the U.S. borders.

A draft memo obtained by The Associated Press outlines a Trump administration proposal under consideration to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants. Millions of those who would be affected in 11 states live nowhere near the Mexico border.